Chapter 252: Clashes Abound
"Impressive power, as always, Frieren-sama..." hummed Robin, standing next to Frieren atop a building—several hundred meters from where the stoic Elf had obliterated Liban, Renji, Hinamori, and Kira.
"Thank you, but I am undeserving of your praise..." responded Frieren, her expression and tone neutral as she stared down at the staff in her hands, contending, "It is only due to this staff and the equipment provided by our Lord that my power has reached this level..."
"Our capabilities are certainly enhanced by our equipment..." confirmed Robin, sporting a relaxed smile as she stated, "But someone lacking the requisite knowledge and control would not be able to utilize them to their full potential."
"True enough..." conceded Frieren, glancing at Robin from the corner of her right eye before looking ahead and asking, "Where did Lady Lalatina go...?"
"That's an excellent question," responded Robin, tilting her head down, closing her eyes, and crossing her wrists with her hands inverted. The pose wasn't necessary to use her Devil Fruit abilities, but it was a habit that helped her focus.
Seeing countless pink petals billow outward from Robin's body, gliding gracefully in an orbital pattern as they spread through her surroundings, Frieren couldn't help uttering, "Very lovely, but not the most practical..." before tapping the pointed pommel of her nearly two-meter-long cobalt-blue and gold staff against the roof tiles beneath her. Its catalyst was a glistening blue sphere that radiated light like a sun trapped beneath in the depths of the sea, suspended between three flat, golden, rune-etched rings circled it, reminiscent of the gimbal of a ship's compass. And at the cost of limiting the number of spells she could cast when wielding it, it reduced the cost and increased the output of three select spells.
"Bodenvalr..." muttered Frieren, causing several ring-shaped pulses of Mana to spread through the building she and Robin were standing on, the ground beneath it, and the faux district, creating a black-and-white three-dimensional image within her mind's eye of the surrounding ten kilometers—highlighting living organism in various colors depending on their mental, emotional, and physical conditions.
Leaving Robin exhaling faintly from her nose but smiling, Frieren revealed, "She has gone ahead, assumably to head off the enemy or indulge herself while we regroup..."
"At least she didn't get purposely caught in your attack..." hummed Robin, causing a thoughtful gleam to flash across Frieren's pale blue-green eyes before she suggested, "We should relocate before the enemy Bishops are permitted to mobilize. After witnessing such a large-scale attack, they will likely prioritize our elimination."
"Allow me," said Robin, producing a golden Magic Circle beneath her and Frieren, teleporting them to the interior of a building four kilometers away, mere moments before a petite, raven-haired, haori-wearing figure with a notably surly expression arrived at where they had been, accompanied by a much taller and rotund one...
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